The series ran on alternate weeks with Badge 714 (1951) on NBC on Thursday nights for a little more than a season. It was the highest rated show at the time NBC decided to cancel it, in favor of airing "Dragnet" weekly. The NBC episodes appeared in syndication in 1953 under the title "Captured", hosted by Chester Morris. In 1955, new first-run episodes under the original "Gang Busters" title were released in syndication by General Teleradio, following their release of the theatrical feature Gang Busters (1955).
Originally a radio program, "Gangbusters" premiered on January 15, 1936, and was broadcast over 21 years through November 27, 1957.